Petrol rises too much too soon says AA

The Automobile Association says the record high price of petrol is too much too soon for motorists.

BP, Z Energy and Caltex raised the retail price of 91 octane by four cents per litre and diesel by three cents per litre on Thursday. Mobil followed on Friday.

BP said the international market forced the rise.

But AA petrol price analyst Mark Stockdale said fuel companies could absorb those international fuel costs.

He said the strengthening New Zealand dollar could easily offset any rise in commodity prices. And the international markets show no increase in the cost of diesel, so the price rise is completely unjustified.